Category: VQA

Have you ever wanted to compare a Red and a Rosé wine made by the same winery and the same vintage? What are the differences and similarities between the two wines? I had that chance with Okanagan Crush Pad free form Cabernet Franc 2019 and Cabernet Franc Rosé 2019. Both come from an organically farmed vineyard in Osoyoos. One thing…

Do you think that a Rose wine can pair with BBQ pork ribs, cornbread, and slaw? I put the Poplar Grove Lakeview Rosé 2020 to the test. It is a blend of 81% Merlot and 19% Malbec made in the Saignee method. As a reminder from my previous post, $2.50 from the sale of each bottle ($30 per case) will…

Expect the unexpected.  That is a good motto when you taste wine.  You don’t know sometimes if a wine will be OK to drink or if it will be exceptional, at any price point.  Today I opened two bottles from Gold Hill Winery.  One is their Cabernet Franc 2016 and the other is the Cabernet Franc Rosé 2020.  These wines…

This summer has gone haywire with all the forest fires. I hope they get under control soon. But Haywire wine is something we can all enjoy now. I received a bottle of Okanagan Crush Pad‘s Haywire Garnet Valley Ranch Pinot Noir 2018 and their Narrative Malbec 2018 to review. Both are wines that age in concrete or clay amphora and…

Charles Baker Riesling 2019 (ON $27.60 4 pack) Once in a blue moon, you just want a single serving of wine, it’s true but that’s exactly when gems like this Charles Baker Riesling come in handy. In association with Stratus, this Riesling is everything you want on a hot summer day it’s crisp, high acid and low alcohol; plus the…

Reviewing wines when it is hot outside and then inside your home is difficult. But today I decided to open two white wines, one still and one sparkling from Nostalgia Wines from the Okanagan. I opened the Nostalgia Wines Pinot Gris 2020 and the Nostalgia Wines Chantilly Lace 2020, a blend of Kerner and Chardonnay made with the Frizzante sparkling…

By Chadsey Cairns Rubenesque Rosé 2019 (ON $) Another VQA beauty here By Chadsey Cairns Rubenesque Rosé 2019 – perfect with spicy foods, insightful yoga books, or a patio – take your pick! First off, the colour on this is striking. Made from Gamay Noir and Muscat Ottonel, this rosé has aromas of strawberries, rhubarb and lilacs. It has a…

Rosewood Estates Winery PTG 2020 (ON $25) Rosewood Estates Winery does it again with this very chuggable red blend, PTG and it’s chillable too, which makes it perfect for the patio or a park hangout. (and lucky for us in Ontario, it’s finally the season for it.)  Notes of juicy raspberries, strawberries, red plums, tomato leaf, oregano, and sun-dried tomato…

It is so hot outside, I decided to open two bottles of white BC wine made by Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland. The 2 bottles are 1. Narrative Chenin Blanc 2019 and 2. free form Vin Gris 2019. In case you have not heard about Vin Gris, it is a very light Rosé wine made from red grapes. This Vin…

This is going to be a spectacular wine and food pairing between Hart House Restaurant and Burrowing Owl Estate Winery.  Limited tickets so buy asap.  Here is the press release.~~~June 24, 2021 (Vancouver, BC) – On Friday, July 9, 2021, Burnaby’s Hart House Restaurant will host an al fresco dinner with wine pairings from Burrowing Owl Estate Winery. The event…